Length measuring and marking apparatus



Jan 29, 1963 R. BLUMBERG ETAL LENGTH MEASURING AND MARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 25, 1959 a mm v o N JNVENToRs ATTORNEYS Jan- 29, 1963 R. BLUMBERG ETA. 3,075,569

LENGTH MEASURING AND MARKING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 195s 4 sheets-sheet A2 Fig. 3A

INVENTORS RICHARD BLUMBERG BY GEORGE M003;

ATToRNgYs Jan- 29, 1963 R. BLUMBERG ETAL A 3,075,569

LENGTH MEASURING AND MARKING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RICHARD BLUMBERG BY GEORGE MOORE @Lowa/dw ATTORN EYS Jan. 29, 1963 R. BLUMBERG ETAL LENGTH MEASURING AND MARKING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 To Switch 222 zas-J/w 240` 236 238 230 234 g i 232 if l i H36 L IOO INVENTORS RICHARD BLUMBERG BY GEORGE MooRE @www nordsee of strip 4d) is best transferred to strip dit thereby moving said strip into position for sequential ejectment.

Continued rotation of wheel 42 urges strip 40 over guide means 63 which is secured to support 12 by means of bolts '70, '72 and 7d. Heating means '76 above guide means 63 is provided to activate the adhesive layer on labels 16 should such be needed. Continued forward motion of strip liti nally urges successive labels 16 over guide means 68 and onto the surface of the material being measured and marked, the reversal of direction and bending around the sharp corner of guide means 68 and adhesion of a portion of the tacky undersurface of a label 16 to the goods causing the separation of a given label 16 from strip 4t). Roller 69 with connecting arm '71 pivoted to support 12 at 73 momentarily bears against a newly ejected label to insure complete adhesion to the goods being measured and marked.

Backing 22 travels under guide member 65, then around the under portion of wheel d2, around roller i8 and then to roll 76 where it is collected for disposal. Roll 76 is mounted on shaft 78 which is driven by a continuous coil spring 80. Coil spring 80 extends about a portion of hub h1 which is drivingly connected to shaft 73 and within a curved slot located below the hubbed circumferential surface of wheel 42. ln this manner rotation of wheel 42 is transferred to hub 81, to shaft 78 and thence to take-up roll 76 thereby effecting a positive winding of backing 22. By its nature coil spring Sti is a driving belt which will slip when a certain degree of friction is developed as against the surface of hub S1. Thus, backing 22 will not be wound too tightly on roll 76.

The entire housing 12 with its associated components is pivotally secured to a rear wall 32 by means of a hub 84 secured to wall 82 with bolt 86 as shown in FIGS. l and 3. A fine adjustment bolt S8 with associated nut 90 projects through wall 92 of housing 14 and bears against wall 9dof support 12. In this manner guide means 68 may be precisely positioned in relation to the goods being measured and marked by merely adjusting bolt 8S to raise or lower support 12. Such adjustment is important as thicker or thinner goods are moved past the apparatus.

Wheel 42 is intermittently rotated by means of the stroke of arm 96 with a scoop 9S (FIG. 5 and FIG. 8) which urges the internal nub of hub 4d downwardly for a predetermined distance. When returning to its original position on the return stroke, arm 96, because of the shape of scoop 98, bears against a new nub 160 at an acute angle. In this manner, wheel 42 is successively rotated thereby successively applying labels 16 to the goods being measured and marked.

The remainder of the present device is essentially devoted to the means for controlling and actuating arm 96 at precise times to coincide with the predetermined distances between labels 16 which are finally applied to the goods.

A sensing wheel 102 (FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted on shaft fritti is provided. Wheel 102 is mounted within housing 1% and shaft 16d is mounted within housing 16S. One end of housing 163 is secured to gear housing 11) via lthreading at 112 whereas the other end of housing 168 is secured to housing 165 at 114. Shaft N4 is keyed at 116 to a bushing 11S which is frictionally and releasably secured to wheel 162 by means of a spring clutch 126B. Thus when shaft 104 is restrained from rotation (as will be explained infra) wheel 102 will slip as against bushing 118 because of the action of spring clutch 12d. Shaft 164 is journaled in the movable races of bearings 122 and 124 and is further secured to bushing 118 via Washer 127 and ange 129'.

A stop means is provided for actuation when the Imeasurement and marking of a roll of goods has been completed. A feeler member 126 is provided (PEG. l and PG. 3) adjacent to sensing wheel housing 165, said feeler member 126 having an arm 1.28 which is pivotally` attached to a rod 13d by fasteners 132 and 134. A rectangular recess or hole 137 in table 13 is normally covered by goods passing thereover and under wheel 192 thereby preventing feeler member 126 from falling into hole 137. As soon as goods no longer pass under wheel 102, feeler member 126 drops into hole 137 thereby rotating shaft in an arc of approximately twenty degrees. Grasping claw 136 with gear engaging teeth is secured at the opposite end of shaft 13h. Thus claw 136 is rotated for twenty degrees and engages gear 14th which is secured to shaft 1M thereby restraining shaft 15M from rotation and halting the rotation of wheel 162. The immediate stopping action is important for precise lmeasurement when as in FIG. 4 the rotation of wheel 1%2 is translated through shaft 164 to a counter 1452 by means or a counter shaft 11M- coupled -to shaft 164- with coupling 146.

rEhe rotation of shaft 104 (by rotation of sensing wheel 1112) is translated to yarm 95 and nub ltitl of hub d4 by means of a gearing system con-tained within housing 1d which actuates a solenoid which actuates arm 96. Gear 14o is directly coupled to shaft 104 at 14d and so is rotated by said shaft 13d. Gear 14?` meshes with gear 15? which has a gear 152 coupled thereto through a common shaft 15d extending through wall 110. Gear 152 meshes with gear 156 which has a plate 158 coupled thereto. Mounted on plate 158 is a nnb 161i which revolves with said plate 158. When nub 160` contacts a lever of microswitch 162, said microswitch 162 closes a circuit 164 with leads 166 `and 168 which travel to solenoid 17@ thereby initiating the stroke of arm 96 against nub 10i). Gears 14d, 15d, 152 and 156 are so interrelated that nnb 160 will make a single revolution which corresponds to the passage of a predetermined length of goods under wheel 162. Thus, the cranking 0f arm 96 is actuated by the passage of a predetermined length or" goods under wheel 102.

llt is essential that nub 16@ be so positioned in relation to microswitch 162 that the iirst label 16 ejected be aixed to the goods -at a distance from the leading end of the goods equal to the predetermined distance between subsequently aixed labels (as determined by the rotation of nub 169). In other words nub 16) must be zeroed in. rl`his is `accomplished by zero reset device 172 (FIG. 4). Reset device 1.72 comprises a handle 174 and a central stem or shaft 17o which extends through gear 156 and wall 11@ and is held therebetween by means of iiange 17S. Attached to stem 176 are a plurality of grabbing members 18o whose bases are exibly biased by a spring 182 against a bushing 184 disposed about shaft 176. Spokes 136 extend from a collar 177 and are telescoped over shaft 176 and project over a spring clutch device lti (similar to 12d) which is slipped over said bushing 184. Thus, if handle 17d is inadvertently depressed while the device is in operation, members 180 will rotate with plate 158 because of the slipping action of clutch 1%. Claws 19@ are attached to grabbing members 184i, the claws 19d being adapted to engage fingers 192 projecting from plate 15S. Thus, handle 174 may be depressed sui'iciently so that claws 19d engage ngers 192 of plate 15S. Handle 174 is then rotated by rotating plate 15S until nub 16h contacts microswitch 162 thereby actuating solenoid 17d which in turn causes a label 16 to be ejected. The apparatus is now adjusted to zero, handle 174 is re- .turned manually under the urging of spring 132 toits initial position and goods may be fed under wheel 102. The rst label 16 will be aiixed to the goods at a distance from the leading end of the goods equal to the predetermined distance between subsequently ai'i'ixed labels.

Rollers 19d and 196 with an enveloping rubber belt 199 (FIG. l) may be positioned beneath feeler wheel 102 to enhance the contact between the goods being measured and marked and wheel 1t'2, the goods flowing between said wheel and said rollers. This iiow of goods is caused by conventional feeding means not shown in the drawing.

Roller 194 is rotatively attached at 198 to arm 200 which is pivotally attached `at 202 to base 204. Roller 196 is r0- tatively attached at 266 to an arm 298 which -is secured at 21d to a plate which is fastened to base 264.

Plate 1558 has a tooth 214 therein which is adapted to receive a pawl 2i6 which is pivotally secured to housing 1 4 at 218. Thus, plate 158 can be rotated only in a clockwise direction as best shown in FIG. l.

When nub 160 contacts microswitch 162 a circuit is momentarily made (until the rotation `of plate 158 carries nnb 160 past microswitch 162). Solenoid 179 (FIG. 5) -is activated to cause arm or plunger 22@ to move to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. Secured to arm 22? is rack 222 with a serrated lower edge 224. Rack 222 has a spring 226 secured thereto at 22e which urges rack 222 to the right when solenoid 170 is not activated. Serrated edge 224 of rack 222 meshes with pinion 230 (FIG. 8) which is positioned between bearing extensions 2.32 and 234 of a bearing block. A further plate 235 is positioned between support 12 and block 232. Pinion 23d is secured to la shaft 236 passing therethrough. One end of shaft 236 is rotatively secured in bearing block 234 whereas secured to the other end thereof is a crank 238 to which is pinned at 24% arm 96 with scoop 9S.

A locating member 242 is provided which slips between nubs 16d. Member 242 is resiilently biased against and between said nubs by a spring 245i which is tensioned around grooved member 246. Thus, when wheel 42 is advanced by arm 96, member 242 is urged outwardly (FIG. 7) by the movement of nubs 1%. However, member' 242 then slips between the next pair of nubs lo@ thereby effecting a constant and controlled movement of wheel 42.

A by-pass switch 243 is provided on housing 14. This switch makes a circuit which by-passes circuit 164 and instead is directly connected to solenoid 170. Thus, a given number of labels 16 may be ejected by merely pressing switch 243 several times. In this manner the labels may be successively ejected until a label with the desired numeral printed thereon is in position to be ejected onto the goods to be measured and marked. An off-on switch 250 with a bulb indicator (not shown) is provided on housing 14.

The operation of device 1d is as follows:

The material to be measured and marked is threaded between sensing wheel 102 and lower rollers 194 and 196. Guide means 63 is precisely positioned in relation to said goods by adjustment of bolt SS. A strip 4t? having labels 16 is led from roll 18 under and against rolls 26 and 28, is then threaded upon wheel 42 (about hubs 44), is then led about a portion of roller 46 and around guide means 68. At this point the labels 16 should be removed from backing 22 and said backing 22 led around the under portion of wheel 42 (about hubs 44), around roller 4S and then to roll 76 where it is collected for disposal. Switch 25@ is turned on to provide a supply of current to the circuits of the device when such are completed. Heating means 76 is then turned on. By-pass switch 243 is depressed several times to successively actuate solenoid 17o thereby causing an ejectrnent of labels until a label with the desired numeral printed thereon is second in position to be ejected onto said material. in one embodiment a label was to be ejected every three yards. Hence the label carrying the numeral 3 thereon is in second position to be ejected with a label marked 6 in third position to follow three yards later. Reset handle 174i is then depressed and turned until nub 160 contacts microswitch 162 thereby actuating solenoid 17d which causes the label in first position to be ejected and the label marked 3 is thereby advanced to rst position and the device is precisely calibrated.

The material is then advanced by feeding means under sensing wheel N2 thereby causing shaft 104 to rotate which in turn causes the rotation of plate 158 through 6 interposed gears 140, 156, 152 and 136. When nub makes a full revolution it momentarily contacts a lever of microswitch 162 thereby closing circuit 16a. Solenoid 1'76` is activated thereby actuating arm 224B with associated rack 222, pinion 231i, crank 233 and nally causes arm 96 to make a stroke against a nub Idil. ln this manner wheel 42 is rotated a predetermined distance as controlled by locating member 242. Thus, the label 16 marked with a 3 is moved onto the goods at a precise time. Because of the tacky undersurface of said label 16, any slight contact with the material causes the label 16 to be carried along therewith and under roller 69 to insure complete adhesion. By virtue of the aforesaid action, the label marked 6 has been advanced to rst position. When nub 160 again makes a full revolution (3 yards later) microswitch 162 is contacted thereby activating solenoid and the cycle is repeated.

When the end of the material has been reached, feeler member 126 drops into hole 137 thereby causing claw 136 to engage gear 14) to restrain shaft 104 from rotation and thereby tend to halt the rotation of sensing wheel 102. This immediate stopping action is necessary whenever shaft 104 is coupled to shaft 144 of counter 142, for otherwise the continued rotation of shaft 104i after the end of the material has been reached will make counter 142 give a high reading. The sudden stopping force applied to Wheel 12 and the consequential twisting action on shaft 1624 is inhibited by the action of spring clutch 129 which permits Wheel 102 to slip freely on bushing 11S thereby expending its torque.

Should reset device handle 174 be inadvertently depressed while shaft 16A is turning gears 14?, 15d, 152 and 156, members 186 thereof will rotate with plate 15S because of the slipping action of clutch 188. ln this manner said gears will be protected from the otherwise harmful grabbing action of members 180.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings.

It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. Apparatus for measuring and labelling linear yard goods at predetermined intervals comprising a feeding wheel of annular shape having inner and outer diameters, a plurality of guiding pins projecting from said outer diameter and a plurality of actuating pins projecting from said inner diameter, means for feeding a measuring strip to said feeding wheel, said strip having spaced apertures adapted to cooperate with and be motivated by the rotation of said feeding wheel, measuring means adapted to motivate said actuating pins for intermittently rotating said feeding Wheel, said measuring means including a sensing wheel rotatable by said linear goods adapted to intermittently motivate said actuating pins where y ia portion of said strip is intermittently advanced onto said goods at predetermined intervals.

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein said strip is initially Wound in a spindleless roll supported on roller means.

3. The apparatus of claim l wherein said strip cornprises detachable labels and includes a removable backing adapted to be separated from said detachable labels when said detachable labels are intermittently advanced onto said goods, said backing thereafter being guided by guide means over certain of said guiding pins and then being wound by roll means revolvably secured to and actuated by said feeding wheel.

4. The apparatus of claim l wherein a resiliently biased locating member bears against and is seated between certain of said guiding pins whereby said locating member may be urged from its seated position by the intermittent rotation of said feeding wheel and will return to its seated position between at least one ditr'erent guiding pin when said feeding wheel no longer moves.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a system of gears adapted to be activated by movement of said sensing Wheel and adapted to activate said feeding wheel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including solenoid means motivated by said system of gears, said solenoid means motivating crank means adapted to activate said feeding wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing wheel is mounted'on a shaft secured in a flange, said wheel being adapted to rotate said shaft, spring clutch means inter- 10 posed between said sensing wheel and said ange and a feeler member adapted to instantaneously stop the rotation of said shaft whereby said sensing wheel will slip relative to the halted shaft permitting the sensing wheel to rotate with respect to the shaft.

Refeseilces Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 327,540 Eisenhart Oct. 6, i885 731,702 Monforts June 23, 1903 1,949,158 Gay Feb. 27, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS V571,780 Canada Mar. 3, 1919v 

1. APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND LABELLING LINEAR YARD GOODS AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS COMPRISING A FEEDING WHEEL OF ANNULAR SHAPE HAVING INNER AND OUTER DIAMETERS, A PLURALITY OF GUIDING PINS PROJECTING FROM SAID OUTER DIAMETER AND A PLURALITY OF ACTUATING PINS PROJECTING FROM SAID INNER DIAMETER, MEANS FOR FEEDING A MEASURING STRIP TO SAID FEEDING WHEEL, SAID STRIP HAVING SPACED APERTURES ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH AND BE MOTIVATED BY THE ROTATION OF SAID FEEDING WHEEL, MEASURING MEANS ADAPTED TO MOTIVATE SAID ACTUATING PINS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ROTATING SAID FEEDING WHEEL, SAID MEASURING MEANS INCLUDING A SENSING WHEEL ROTATABLE BY SAID LINEAR GOODS ADAPTED TO INTERMITTENTLY MOTIVATE SAID ACTUATING PINS WHEREBY A PORTION OF SAID STRIP IS INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCED ONTO SAID GOODS AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS. 